# US 5,346,470 A · Contrast media injector

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- Number: US 5,346,470 A
- Document ID: US5346470A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/009,861
- Filed: 1993-01-27
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1990-12-20
- Assignees: E-Z-EM, Inc.
- Inventors: Eamonn Hobbs; Irvin F. Hawkins; Arthur Zimmet; John Goodman; Daniel Recinella
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346470A

## CPC

- A61B 6/481: {involving the use of contrast agents}
- A61B 5/0215: by means inserted into the body
- A61B 5/411: {Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance}
- A61B 6/504: {for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography}
- A61M 5/007: {for contrast media}
- A61B 6/541: {involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal}
- A61B 18/245: {for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi}
- A61M 2202/0225: Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
- A61M 2210/12: Blood circulatory system
- A61M 2230/04: Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

An apparatus is provided for use with a contrast media injector. The injector is of the type including a gas source and a liquid source. The apparatus includes a gas delivery channel connected to the gas source and a liquid delivery channel connected to the liquid source. Two normally closed valves are provided to control flow from the gas and liquid channel. The valves insure that gas and liquid do not simultaneously exit from the channel. The valves minimize inadvertent mixing of the gas and saline downstream of the valves. The gas channel is connected to a gas source using a fitting which also connects electro-conductive wires in the apparatus to a power source. The liquid channel connects to a source of liquid.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for use with a contrast media injector of the type including a source of gas and a source of liquid, the apparatus comprising:
a gas delivery channel;
means for connecting said gas delivery channel to a gas source;
a liquid delivery channel;
means for connecting said liquid delivery channel to a liquid source;
electro-conductive wires connectable to a power source;
a plurality of normally closed, automatic valves for controlling the flow of gas and liquid from said gas and liquid channels, said normally closed valves including means for opening in response to predetermined internal pressures, a said normally closed valves including means for insuring that the gas and liquid do not simultaneously exit from said gas and liquid channels, when the back pressure of the gas is greater than the back pressure of the liquid, said normally closed valves minimizing inadvertent mixing of said gas and liquid;
said means for connecting said gas channel to said gas source including means to connect said electro-conductive wires to a power source.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of normally closed valves includes two duckbill check valves placed at an angle of between 30.degree. to 45.degree., and further included a common channel through which either gas or liquid flows after exiting said duckbill valves, said common channel having an inner diameter of between 0.062 to 0.110 inches.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a channel in which said electro-conductive wires are housed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gas delivery channel, said liquid delivery channel and, said channel housing said electro-conductive wires are three lumens of a bonded tri-lumen tube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 and further including a receptacle on said contrast media injector, and wherein said means for connecting said gas channel and said electro-conductive wires to a gas source and a power source is a fitting, said fitting including wire locks, said wire locks constructed to mate with spring loaded pins on said receptacle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the portion of said fitting which mates with said receptacle is flat.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fitting includes wire locks and said receptacle includes spring loaded pins, the wire locks engaging the spring loaded pins.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fitting includes a conductive epoxy and said receptacle includes spring loaded pins and the epoxy engaging the spring loaded pins.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fitting includes an O-ring and an O-ring tip and wherein said receptacle includes a central bore, the O-ring tip being shaped and dimensioned to fit in said bore, said O-ring sealing said bore before electrical contact is made.